AC Boral - Rice & Shine

AC's family

Rice & Shine Filipino Soul Food
@riceandshineeats

Creating Filipino Soul Food, Chef and Owner AC Boral is at the helm of Rice & Shine. A Filipino American pop-up dining experience, Rice & Shine began as a series of pop up brunches in 2014 around Long Beach and LA with sinigang lumpia, longanisa scotch eggs and ube mochi waffles. They have events like Brunch Club, Kamayan Feast, Wu-Tang Clan themed dinner, weddings, and make an amazing ensaymada butter. Rice & Shine believes “that the soul of Filipino food is at the family table” and AC is doing it for family and to keep his father’s legacy alive, “what food means to me is the memories of my childhood, the memories of where food is love.” And so he continues to build and grow, with BAON, a new Filipino lunch counter in Downtown LA, and is opening a restaurant, pop up venue, and community space (and home to Rice & Shine Catering) in Long Beach at the end of summer.

Sisig chilaquiles, longanisa scotch egg, ube mochi waffles, and baby back ribs with banana ketchup.

Rice & Shine’s Brunch Club and Kamayan Feast have brought Filipino food to a wide audience and provided an intimate community feel around the table. “We craft experiences centered around the education of Filipino Food Tradition and Fil Am Identity and--most importantly--good food.” said AC. With “tradition as an anchor for progress” dishes like pork belly adobo tacos with strawberry pico de gallo, ube mochi waffles, and baby back ribs with banana ketchup bring it together.

Chef AC Boral and sous chef Janice Dig Cabaysa

“We make Filipino Soul Food. Where I want each guest to be nourished by more than just what’s on the plate. And so many of you who have been know this. And have come back. And have shared this. And that’s so humbling.” said AC.

AC’s father is the inspiration behind why he does this. His father’s generosity, how he would host and entertain, and the food he would cook influenced AC to gather everyone to eat. His father’s passing the week of a sold out pop up brunch had AC and family to almost cancel, but they dedicated the brunch to his father. That brunch also brought the realization and confidence to AC that he could be a chef and business man in the culinary world.

Right now AC is in the midst of opening Rice & Shine’s first permanent home in Long Beach. It will be a 40 seat restaurant, pop up venue and community space located on Fourth Street and Temple. “You can guarantee that our new restaurant is an extension of our family table. The food we share, the relationships we build, and the community we foster will be the heart of what we do at the table.” Classic Rice & Shine dishes will be available as well as new menu items. You can look forward to the Longanisa Scotch Eggs every Sunday for Rice & Shine Brunch, and Kamayan and Vegan Kamayan menus! AC will also bring the 36 Courses: The Wu-Tang Tribute Dinner to his space.

There’s so much love and passion in what AC does. He’s doing it for Filipino food and the community. “It’s Storytelling. It’s Identity. It’s Love. Done through food.”

AC is in the end of his kick starter campaign for Rice & Shine! To support click here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/acboral/rice-and-shine-filipino-soul-food

photos courtesy of AC Boral